If the Red Sox could win the World Series, shouldn't I be able to get pregnant? I'm just hoping it won't take me 86 years. These last 2 1/2 years have been hard enough.

Tuesday, April 18, 2006

Stupid Genes

Thanks everyone for all your kind comments. They really made me feel better.

I hope everyone enjoyed their holiday weekends, whether or not you were celebrating Passover, Easter and/or Patriot’s Day. I went up to Boston on Wednesday to celebrate the Passover seders with my family, and even got to take in an excellent Red Sox game at Fenway Friday night. I spent Saturday in CT visiting my pregnant best friend. All the while I was hoping that dearest D would find a way to emerge from his cocoon by the time I arrived home on Sunday. Alas, it was not to be.

I will admit that his head has poked out from time to time, and some laughs have even ventured forth, but he’s still sad, sad, sad about his life. I find that when the person I love most in the world is sad, sad, sad about his life, I can’t help but feel like it’s my fault. I mean, aren’t I supposed to be his light and soul and all that romantic stuff? Isn’t my love for him supposed to be enough to make him feel like he can conquer anything? Shouldn’t the strength of our relationship and the deep feelings we have for one another be all that he needs to feel that life is good? Alas, it is not be.

Instead, poor D feels like his life sucks and that his genes are crap. So strongly does he feel this, that he asked me to consider whether or not we should use donor sperm. Not because he thinks his sperm won’t be able to do the job (in fact, he said “it’ll probably work this time”), but because he doesn’t want to pass on Celiac Disease to his children.

I was floored. My immediate reaction was a big, huge NO. D is the man I chose to marry. It’s his genes I want mixed with mine. Then I thought, maybe I am being too Pollyanna about the ramifications of this disease. I started to feel selfish for saying D has to pass on his genes. Maybe it would be extremely traumatic to a kid and to us to have a child with Celiac. But in the end, I want a child that is mine and D’s. Just as we both hope our kids have my hair, not D’s, we’ll hope that it won’t be gluten-intolerant.

We both really do think this IVF cycle will work. D’s infection should be cleared up and they’ll ICSI all the eggs. We’re so close now to getting what I’ve wanted for so long I can taste it. I began Lupron last week, and take my last BCP tomorrow. Stims should start next week. If we decided we wanted to use donor sperm, I think it would mean having to skip this cycle – I doubt we could figure out that procedure in the next 3 weeks – and that makes me even less inclined to contemplate it. But, mostly, I don’t want to think about having a child that’s not biologically D’s. For the last couple of weeks I have been imagining our family – me and D and a child that has Celiac Disease. I’m okay with that. I know I could take care of him/her. I’m going to learn how to take care of D. If he’ll let me.

13 Comments:

Mellie, I am so sorry D is having a hard time dealing with Celiac. It is very hard to see someone we love so dearly go thru a very difficult time but I truly believe that your love and kindness and caring is helping him get thru this.

Good luck with this cycle. It is exciting to hear that stims are starting next week! I will be thinking of you guys.

D didn't know he even had CD until recently... who is to say that a donor might carry a disease no one has yet diagnosed in him? We all have something, whether it is emotional, psychological, or physical. You want his baby. And it will happen.

Celiac Disease is not so bad as all that ... to make you want to consider not using your own genes. And, i dont think that sperm donors are tested for celiac (as they're not tested for chrone's disease or any other disease that may develop. Heck, most people dont even realize they've got a problem to know to be tested.). The thing is, celiac is not necessarily inherited, like obesity, diabetes, and crohne's (sp). You may be predisposed to having it because of your genes but only if you pig out regularly will you be obese, eating in ordinate amount of sugar will probably make you diabetic, and consuming an inordinate amount of gluten (which the American diet normally includes by virtue of all the preservative) will make you sensitive to gluten and eventually acquire celiac disease.

Mellie -- I agree with your decision to move forward and not strongly consider using a sperm donor now and delaying or postponing this cycle.

In this day and age, Celiac is difficult, but much more managable than it was years ago. You are also armed with this possibility at the outset, which allows you to act accordingly. A friend of mind found out that this daughter had it only after she began losing weight and failing to keep food down. You'll be just fine.

BTW -- I know that it's difficult not to feel responsible for ones' spouses' feelings. In the end, we cannot help if they won't let us in.

Your poor hub. I agree with spanglish- everyone has something they could pass on. You love each other, and it sounds like this is a manageable disease. That is what counts. I hope this cycle works and he starts to feel better.

If your immediate gut reaction was "no" when D mentioned using a sperm donor, then I think you should trust that gut instinct. There are so many "what ifs" involved in creating a life, that if we feared them rather than faced them, the human race would probably die out. Go for what your gut tells you, and know that your love and support are enough to help D come out of his cave. Sounds like he just needs a little more time...

What is the evidence that celiac disease is inherited anyway? You never know. And it's just one trait among so many that you love, of course you are right to go ahead.

I know how tough it is when your partner is miserable, H has had a very difficult year too. Very hard not to make it all about me! Well done for being the right kind of supportive spouse and really listening to what he has to say.

I guess when we all stop and think about the "what ifs" of genetics and having a baby, we would all stop going to such great lengths to have a child. But, in the end, our love for our spouse and a desire to reproduce with them outweighs those questions. I agree -- go with your gut instinct and forge ahead with this cycle.

About Me

I'm 34 years old and a native Bostonian living in the Big Apple. My husband is 35 and in October we'll have been married for 5 years.
I've been trying to get pregnant since May of 2003. Who knew it could be so hard? We've done 3 IUIs with me on clomid and 4 IUIs while on bravelle and one IVF that resulted in zero fertilization of 17 eggs. Next up - IVF #2, now with ICSI!